Becoming an Alpinist

On this progressive alpine training course we aim to tackle some of Chamonix's classic moderate alpine routes in a style that will offer you high quality mountaineering training along the way. This course is ideally suited to those with some existing rock climbing and winter mountaineering experience and who would like to develop these existing skills and become independent 'Alpinists'.

With a maximum ratio of 1 Mountain Guide to 3 students this course aims to deliver high quality practical training whilst tackling some interesting alpine terrain (up to PD+) and practicing new skills in a high alpine context along the way.

There are four cornerstones to Alpine Mountaineering which even good climbers experienced in smaller and non-glaciated hills may not be familiar with. These four themes will drive the content of the training throughout the week. They are:

Good 'movement skills' on all terrain from rough walking to steep climbing and from rock to mixed & ice

Always roping together members of the team on a snow covered glacier

Sticking to guide book time for the route - the need to be efficient and how to achieve this

Pre Course - Arrive in Chamonix, arrange any hire equipment. Check in to Hotel / campsite etc. Any previous time spent in the valley warming up / acclimatising / training will be beneficial but is not essential.

Day 1 - Easy Multi-pitch rock climbing in the Chamonix Valley. This is an important training day and gives the opportunity to refine your alpine & rock climbing rope work in ascent and descent whilst sampling some of the superb alpine rock in the Aiguilles Rouges / middle mountains.

Day 2 - Starting from the village of Argentiere we use the first of the big 3 alpine lifts in the Mont Blanc range Les Grands Montets (3275m). This gives us immediate access to glacial and high alpine mixed terrain where we can start to cover some of the alpine elements of the training themes described above and do some good easy mixed climbing in the process.

Day 3 - Ascend Chamonix's famous high mountain lift, the Aiguille du Midi (3842m) to access the remarkable area of rock, ice and mixed climbs around the col du Midi. This day gives us the chance to develop more high mountain alpine techniques with a variety of possible route options including easy multi pitch mixed climbing or traversing classic alpine PD ridge terrain. Check out some of the options on our 'Midi Variations' gallery below:

Days 4 & 5 - Drive through the Mont Blanc tunnel to access the superb Italian side of the Mont Blanc Massif via the high Hellbroner lift (3462m). After a glacial journey tackle a superb 'Chamonix Granite' Alpine ridge traverse like the Aiguille Marbrees. The journey back to the high 'Torino' Hut provides an ideal opportunity for some Glacier travel and crevasse rescue training. Dinner and an overnight at the Torino always involves plenty of pasta and classic Italian café.

An early start on Day 5 from the Torino Hut (3329m) usually provides the classic pre-dawn experience of an 'alpine start' crunching across the frozen glacier in crampons. Few other huts in the Alps have more route choices than the Torino. Check out our 'Hellbronner Variations' gallery below for some final route options which can be blended with any remaining training issues to be covered at the end of this action & coaching packed week of mountaineering. We finish the week with the final descent to Courmayeur / Chamonix for drinks, a course debrief and some ideas about suitable future climbs on the progression towardsBecoming an Alpinist.

Suggested Fitness and Experience levels

This course is for people who already have some rock climbing experience and have used crampons and an ice axe before. To get the most out of the training and suggested routes you will be able to second up to F4bc (UK Severe) and you will also need to be physically fit and enthusiastic to complete 5 full days (Max 6-8 hours in duration) in the mountains.

Equipment List

In addition to all the items mentioned in that list you will also require the following items which can be cheaply hired from us:

X 2 Technical Ice Axes

Comfortable rock climbing shoes that you can wear all day with a pair of socks underneath

Suggested Course Progression

Our Chamonix Alpine Introduction would be a great start to building your mountaineering experience and a good onward progression would then be to Climb the Gran Paradiso, followed by the Weissmies. These enjoyable and contrasting Italian & Swiss 4000m peaks would set you up very well for Climbing Mont Blanc. Our Becoming an Alpinist course would fit in well after that and would then logically be followed by Chamonix Alpinist & our Climb the Eiger & Matterhorn courses. Chamonix private guiding is a good choice along the way for harder / longer routes & north faces as well as further specific training. This course progression is often reflected in the dates of our courses so get in touch if you would like to build an excellent longer alpine programme with several different consecutive courses...an alpine 'semester!'

2015 Course Dates & Prices

As our July course was an early sell out we have added another 5 day course in late June / early July

Mountain huts. Allow about 65 euros per person for your hut night (dinner, bed & breakfast) and share in the Guides hut night also (double this for the Gouter Hut, including several bottles of drinking water).

Mountain lift passes. Allow 30 euros for the return trip during the training phase and about the same for the telecabine / tramway during the summit period.

The guides expenses are split between the group members and are discounted in huts and on lifts. The best way to deal with these expenses is to make a communal group 'kitty' which you contribute to and all expenses are paid out of.

Flights

Transfer from the airport to Chamonix, around 30 euros each in way in 2014

Lunches, extra drinks, snacks etc during the course

Mountaineering equipment. Check the kit list below

Insurance, this is your responsibility to arrange and ensure that you are covered for alpine mountaineering in the European Alps

Any other expenses

Approximate total cost of additional essential expenses (based 6 nights staying in the huts and a 2* Hotel in the valley): 450 Euros

Further Details & Booking

For more details on our terms & conditions, to fill in a booking form and make a payment, please visit our booking page via the link below:

An impressive collection of galleries giving an insight in to the quality and huge variety of mountaineering within and around the Chamonix Valley. Routes include classic beginners alpine ridges, 1000m+ classic North Faces, winter style Chamonix Goulottes and many more.

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